THE CLOSURE OF MAYA BAY IN THAILAND IS WORKING!

The recent closure of the famous Maya Bay in Thailand is a perfect example of why eco-tourism is so important to us all. The stunning bay, with its golden sandy beach sheltered by high cliffs on three sides, is the main tourist attraction of Phi Phi Island.  Most visitors for the day arrive from Phuket, Khao Lak or Krabi.

As many as 6,000 visitors and around 200 boats typically visit the bay daily and the negative effects of human visitors has drastically taken its toll. Large chunks of the beautiful coral reef surrounding the bay is either severely damaged or destroyed completely, and the marine life just a fraction of what it used to be.

Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has taken drastic measures and closed Maya Bay to the public indefinitely to allow coral restoration and beach recovery and their efforts are already paying off. Since the closure in June 2018, the conservationists have grown 5,615 colonies of new corals on the reef and the remaining ones are gradually producing new, young parts and blacktip reef sharks have been spotted in the now calm waters of the bay.

This positive example of eco-tourism is hopefully one of many similar global projects that will take place in the foreseeable future (not just in Thailand but around the world).  It’s imperative that we protect our world from over tourism.

Special thanks to Select Representation‘s trusted partner Tour East for providing the above information.  Tour East is long established destination management company covering most of the APAC region that strongly believes in eco-tourism and the benefits of saving our planet from destruction.